Why it matters: Approximately 27,000 patients have faced persistent access issues at Cardinal Medical Practice since it was formed in 2021, following a damning Care Quality Commission inspection in May 2022.
The details: In an update on Thursday, 2 October, Spencer said he had spoken to partners about the expansion plans.
"Plans for expanded premises are progressing, we are in a commercially sensitive territory with negotiations, and planning applications have been submitted," the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP said.
He also reminded patients that 11 October is flu vaccine day and urged those who have not signed up to do so.
For context: The update comes after plans for a £7.5m "super surgery" at the former Tooks Bakery site were scrapped in October 2024 due to rising costs.
In May 2025, the practice was revealed to be in talks with Ipswich Borough Council about converting the former Inkerman pub on Norwich Road into a new administrative centre with additional consulting rooms.
Spencer had previously said he was hopeful that construction could begin by Christmas, with expanded surgery capacity delivered by Easter 2026. It’s unclear if these timeframes remain feasible.
The bottom line: While Spencer says progress is being made, no timeline has been provided for when the expanded practice will be open to the thousands of patients who continue to wait for improved primary care facilities in the area.
It cost us ~£14 to produce this article
Our content is free to read thanks to the generous support of GBS , The Lanman Group and Ipswich School
GBS
This family-run construction company has delivered quality services across commercial building, fire protection, diamond drilling, health and safety, and asbestos removal for over 30 years.
The Lanman Group
The Lanman Group is an award-winning, fully MCS-accredited sustainable energy company with a 5-star rating on Google. From its offices in Suffolk, it serves businesses and homes across East Anglia.
Ipswich School
Suffolk's top independent school for the past nine years.Ipswich shoplifter back behind bars just months after previous conviction
A man jailed in August for stealing over £1,000 from Ipswich supermarkets is back in prison after being caught stealing again just weeks later, highlighting the challenges of repeat offending in the town centre.
Refill shop launches FIND food bank collection on Woodbridge Road
Customers at Unwrapped & Refill in Ipswich can now pick up an extra tin or jar and drop it in a FIND (Families in Need) donation basket, helping Ipswich families facing hardship this Christmas and beyond.
Twenty-three years of hope and heartbreak: Why Broomhill Pool campaigners refuse to give up
Despite two failed attempts to secure funding for one of Britain's finest lidos, the Broomhill Pool Trust chairman is urging stakeholders to "finally get the project over the line" – arguing the scheme is ready-made with planning permission, design approval, and unprecedented public support.Nearly 5,000 military homes in East of England set for major upgrade
Armed forces families in nearly 5,000 military homes across the East of England will benefit from a new Defence Housing Strategy that commits £9 billion over the next decade to upgrade and modernise military accommodation.New project aims to shine light on 'unrecorded' disability experiences in Suffolk
A new heritage project will capture the lived experiences of people with disabilities in Suffolk, addressing a gap in historical records while challenging perceptions about inclusion and accessibility in communities today.GBS , The Lanman Group and Ipswich School
GBS
This family-run construction company has delivered quality services across commercial building, fire protection, diamond drilling, health and safety, and asbestos removal for over 30 years.The Lanman Group
The Lanman Group is an award-winning, fully MCS-accredited sustainable energy company with a 5-star rating on Google. From its offices in Suffolk, it serves businesses and homes across East Anglia.Ipswich School
Suffolk's top independent school for the past nine years.Over 1,500 Suffolk residents sign petition calling for quieter fireworks
More than 1,500 people across Suffolk have signed a petition urging the government to reduce the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels.More than 8,600 Ipswich and Central Suffolk residents sign petition against digital ID cards
Thousands of residents in the Ipswich and Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituencies have signed a parliamentary petition opposing the introduction of digital ID cards, making it the most popular petition in the area.Blues show steel to salvage point against in-form Hornets
Ipswich Town demonstrated their growing resilience on Tuesday night, recovering from an early setback to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a Watford side that had hammered second-placed Middlesbrough 3-0 just days earlier.
87-year-old veteran leads Ipswich march as Medals2Matches creates space for heroes to share stories
Phil Hubert, 87, performed The Last Post before leading veterans through Ipswich town centre to Portman Road on Tuesday, 4 November, in a moment that captured the spirit of Medals2Matches – an initiative that has helped veterans open up, connect, and speak about their wellbeing for four years.Sackers sells trade waste arm to Biffa
National waste firm Biffa has acquired the trade waste arm of Sackers, a long-established scrap yard and waste management company based near Ipswich, for an undisclosed sum.GBS , The Lanman Group and Ipswich School
GBS
This family-run construction company has delivered quality services across commercial building, fire protection, diamond drilling, health and safety, and asbestos removal for over 30 years.The Lanman Group
The Lanman Group is an award-winning, fully MCS-accredited sustainable energy company with a 5-star rating on Google. From its offices in Suffolk, it serves businesses and homes across East Anglia.Ipswich School
Suffolk's top independent school for the past nine years.Ipswich IT firm ICS reports 30% growth and expands team
ICS, an IT support company based in Ipswich, has reported 30% growth over the past year and increased its headcount by 25% in the last three months.How you can help local children wake up to gifts this Christmas
Shoppers at the Buttermarket Centre can donate new toys and food items to ensure no Ipswich family goes without this festive season, with donations accepted until 14 December.
